Article sizing apparatus



Oct. 10, 1961 H. w. GROTEWOLD mucus: szzmc APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1957 INVENTOR HANS W. G ROTEWOLD ATTORN EY United States Patent 3,003,632 ARTICLE SIZING APPARATUS Hans W. Grotewoid, Sebring, Fla., assignor to FMC Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 701,111 7 Claims. (Cl. 20984) The present invention appertains generally to sizers and more particularly to sizing screens by which articles such as fruit and vegetables can be sorted according to size.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sizing screen of simple construction.

Another object is to provide a sizing apparatus of simplified construction resulting from the use of the improved sizing screen above mentioned.

Another object is to provide novel means in a sizing screen to render the sorting operation performed thereby more accurate.

Another object is to provide a sizing screen having flexibility toward only one side. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention as well as the manner in which it is employed will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an apparatus in which the present sizing screen is employed to perform the sorting operation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of the sizing screen shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the present sizing screen disclosing further details of construction.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the sizing screen and is taken longitudinally of the screen along the lines 44 of FIG. 2.

The sorting apparatus (FIG. 1) with which certain articles having a generally globular but irregular shape, such as fruit or vegetables, can be sorted comprises an elongated support structure 12. At opposite ends 14 and 16 of the support structure 12 are pairs of bearings 18 and 29 (only one bearing of each pair being shown) in which transversely extending shafts 22 and 24, respectively, are journaled. At opposite sides of the support structure above the bearings 18 and 20 and extending end to end of the support structure 12 are upstanding curbings 26.

A pulley or roller 32 extending from side to side of the support structure is fixed on the shaft 22 between the bearings 18. Fixed on the shaft 24 adjacent the bearings 20 are sprockets 33 between which a pulley or roller 34 is secured that is similar to the roller 32 and of smaller diameter than the sprockets 33. One end of the shaft 24 extends beyond one of the bearings 20 and is operatively connected by a chain and sprocket drive 36 with a drive motor 38 to drive the sprockets 33 and the roller 34 upon operation of the motor. A sizing screen or chain 40 in the form of an endless web is trained around the sprockets 33, to mesh therewith, and around the roller '34 on the shaft 24 as well as around the roller 32 on the shaft 22. When the sizing screen 40 is disposed in the manner described the upper reach 41 thereof lies closely adjacent the curbings 26 which extend along the lateral edges of the reach 41.

At the end 14 of the apparatus 10 is a hopper 42 that is positioned over the roller 32 and is secured to the support structure 12. As shown in FIG. 1, one wall 44 of the hopper 42 is cut away along the bottom to leave an elongated opening 46 between the reach 41 and the wall 44 to permit the discharge of produce from the hopper during movement of the sizing screen 40 in the direction of the arrow 48. Across the end 16 of the support ice 2 structure 12 is a discharge chute 50 that is inclined downward and away from the apparatus 10.

The sizing screen 40 at the feed end 14 of the apparatus 10 is at a lower level than at the discharge end 16 so that the upper reach 41 of the sizing screen 40 is inclined upwardly from the hopper42. The upper reach 41 of the sizing screen is maintained substantially in a plane between the rollers 32 and 34 by means later to be described. The lower reach 54 of the sizing screen 40 hangs loosely between the rollers 32 and 34 below a trough 56 that is secured to the support structure 12. The trough 56 underlies substantially the entire upper reach 41 or" the sizing screen 40 and serves to receive articles of small size during operation of the apparatus 10.

The sizing screen 40 of the present apparatus (FIGS. 2 and 3) comprises an endless series of identical, elongated link members 60 that extend transversely of the sizing screeen 40. Each link member 60 has a generally zigzag configuration and is made of a slender rod 62. At intervals throughout their length the adjacently disposed link members 60 are connected by hinge clips 64 to form the sizing screen 40 and to give it suitable flexibility.

The opposite elongated, side edges 66 and 68 of each link member 60 (FIG. 2) are in parallel relation and are formed with a series of straight link connecting portions or journal portions 70 and 72, respectively, which are longitudinally aligned and extend lengthwise of the link members 60. The journal portions 70 along the edges 66 of the link members 60 are uniformly spaced with journal portions 70 on the edge 66 located adjacent the opposite ends of the link members. The journal portions 72 along the other edges 68 of the link members are also uniformly spaced and are located substantially midway between, but laterally offset from, the journal portions 70 along the edges 66. The alternately disposed journal portions 70 and 72. of each link member 60 are interconnected by diagonally extending portions 74 of the rod 62. The two diagonal portions 74 extending from each journal portion define an included angle of substantially 90f to form a notch 76 (FIG. 2) of modified -shape that flares toward the opposite edge of the link member. The V-shaped notches 76 are flattened at their points by the journal portions 70 and 72, respectively, and are elongated at the edges of the link members. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the manner in which the link members are formed locates the notches 76 alternately, the first at the edge 66 and then at the other edge 68, throughout the length of each link member.

The rod 62 of which each link member 60 is formed is bent at its ends so as to form generally rectangular hooks 78 (FIG. 2) providing two additional journal portions 80 on the edge 68 that are longitudinally aligned with the journal portions 72 and are opposite to the endmost journal portions 70' on the edge 66. Beyond the journal portions 80 the ends 82 of the rod 62; are bent so as to project obliquely from the journal portions 80.

The previously mentioned hinge clips 64 that connect the link members are formed of rather thin, deformable material and each clip comprises an elongated body 84 of rectangular shape. At opposite, elongated edges of the body 84 are two broad, bearing tongues 85 and 86 which are relatively short and are bent into place about the pairs of journal portions 70 and 72 so as to connect the link members. At opposite ends of the body 84 are projecting stop arms 87 and '88 that form coplanar extensions of the body 84. The stop arms 87 and 88 are of equal length and the adjoining surfaces of the body 84 and of the stop arms '87 and 38 at one side of each hinge clip 64 comprise a broad, fiat, elongated face 90 of rec- The gauging tabs 92 and 93 of each clip are of equal size and project in a common direction at substantially right angles away from the top face 90. The tabs 92 and 93 of each clip 64 have smooth, flat surfaces 94 and 95, re-

spectively, that face outwardly from opposite ends of the clip.

In describing the connection of the link members 60 by the hinge clips 64 to form the sizing screen 40, reference is made to FIGS. 3 and 4. The link members 60 are arranged symmetrically in edge to edge relation so that the journal portions 70 and 70, respectively, on the edges -66 of each two adjacent link members 60 are in juxtaposed relation and the journal portions 72 and 80, re-

spectively, of the adjacent edges 68 of each two adjacent link members 60 are also in juxtaposed relation. Let it be assumed that the sizing screen 40 shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 will be advanced in the direction of the arrows 48 shown therein and that all of the hinge clips 64 are identically arranged so that the bodies 84 extend longitudinally of the link members with the bearing tongues 86 in the lead (FIG. 3). Theclips 64 with their hearing tongues in their original, flat configuration, are placed so that the under face 91 of each clip overlies one pair of the closely positioned journal portions 70 or 72 on the upper side of two adjacently arranged link members 60 as illustrated in the lower, left hand corner of FIG. 3. Next, the bearing tongues 85 and 86, which are substantially as broad as the journal portions are long, are bent about the respectively associated pairs of journal portions 70 or 72 as the case might be. When bent in the above described manner the body 84 and the tongues 85 and 86, respectively, of each clip in effect form a loop around one ofjournal portions 70 or 72. It will be noted '(FIG. 4) that the bearing tongues 85 and 86 of each clip curve inwardly of the clip so that the end portions of the tongues are disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to the under face 91 of the clip. The bearing tongues 85 and 86 of the clips provide semicylindqical bearing surfaces 85 and 86', respectively (FIG. 4) which cooperate to hold the journal portions of each pair of journal portions 70 or 72 in firm contact with each other as well as to hold the journal portions in firm contact with the under faces 91 of the clips. As best shown in FIGS.2 and 3, the broad cooperating tongues 85 and 86 which contact the pairs of journal portions 70 or 72 throughout substantially the entire length of the latter prevent relative endwise movement of the link members -60 and also pivotally connect the link members to form the sizing screen 40. With the hinge clips 64 of the sizing screen 40 arranged in the above described manner the stop arms 87 and 88 of each clip project longitudinally of the link members beyond the points from which the oblique portions 74 diverge from the journal portions 70 and 72.

Upon connection of the link members 60 in the above described manner by the clips 64 the journal portions 70' as well as the journal portions 80 of the adjacent link members 60, respectively, are arranged in side by side relation. The pairs of journal portions 70' are connected by special hinge clips 64a which includes but one stop arm 88a and but one gauging tab 93a, as shown in FIG. 2. Each pair of journal portions 80 is connected by a band 96 that is bent in place in the manner of the cooperating tongues 85 and 86. Displacement of the bands 96 axially of the pairs of journal portions 80 from the rods 62 of the connected link members is prevented by the obliquely directed rod ends 82. When the link members 60 are connected toform the sizing screen 40 the notches 76 of modified V-shape of the adjacent link members 60 register with each other so as to form identical, hexagonal openings 98 (FIG. 2) throughout the entire sizing screen 40. The bearing tongues and 86 which define two opposite sides of a hexagonal opening 98 are spaced a certain uniform distance apart as indicated by the diameter line 100 (FIG. 2) that extends through the center of the opening 98. The previously mentioned diagonal portions 74 define other opposite sides of the hexagonal opening 98. Opposite ones of the diagonal portions or sides 74 are spaced apart substantially equal distances diagonally of the openings 98, indicated by the diameter lines 102 and 104 (FIG. 2) that extend through the center of the opening 98. The diameters 102 and 104 are substantially equal to the diameter 100 giving each hexagonal opening 98 three equal diameters.

If it were not for the particular length of the stop arms 87 and 88 which dispose the gauging tabs 92 and 93, respectively, at a predetermined location in opposite corners of the hexagonal openings 98 the openings would be elongated in a direction longitudinally of the link members 60 as compared to the diameters 100, 102 and 104. The position of the gauging tabs 92 and 93 in the hexagonal openings 98 has been calculated so that the surfaces 94 and 95 of the two clips 64 which are opposite each other in each opening 98 will be spaced apart a predetermined distance. The surfaces 94 and 95 gauge or limit the dimension of each opening 98 transversely of the screen as indicated by the diameter line 106 (FIG. 2) so as to be substantially equal to the diameter 100 as well as to both diagonal diameters 102 and 104. Because all of the dimensions of the openings 98, which are critical to the performance of the sorting or sizing operation are substantially the same, it can be said that the four diameters 100, 102, 104 and 106 are equal and in effect the sizing opening 98 thus formed is octagonal in shape. The elimination of one disproportionally long dimension in each sizing opening 98 results in a more uniform grading of articles according to size by the use of the sizing screen 40 of the present invention than was heretofore possible.

Previously, sizing screens comprising link members similar to the link members 60 were connected at the journal portions by bands such as shown at 96 with the result that all sizing openings were elongated transversely of the sizing screen. Since the other critical opening dimensions of such a sizing screen were usually equal and of lesser extent than the dimension of the openings transversely of the screen, the grading operations performed with such a sizing screenwere not uniform. An undesirable number of large size articles passed through the openings of such a sizing screen with the articles of small, inferior size.

In the assembled sizing screen 40 the under faces 91 of the hinge clips 64 on the stop arms 87 and 88 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) overlie the diagonal portions 74 of the link members adjacent the opposite ends of the pairs of journal portions 70 and 72. Referring particularly to FIG. 4 it will be understood that the portion of the under face 91 on the stop arms beyond the body 84 overlies and engages the diagonal portions 74 of the associated link members laterally of the journal portion axes. This location of the stop arms prevents upward pivoting of the diagonal portions 74 of the link members toward the hinge clips 64 beyond the position of the link members shown in FIG. 4. The stop arms 87 and 88 of the hinge clips 64 will not, however, restrict downward pivoting movement of the link members. This feature makes it possible to use the sizing screen 40 of the present invention in apparatus such as the one shown in FIG. 1 with the upper reach 41 unsupported between the rollers 32 and 34 at the ends 14 and 16, respectively, without so much downward bowing of the screen 40 that malfunctioning of the sizer would result.

In operation of the apparatus 10, it will be understood that the hooks 78 of the sizing screen mesh with the sprockets 33 so as to positively advance the sizing screen in the direction of the arrow 48 (FIG. 1) when the motor 38 is energized. Articles of random size to be sorted, e.g., fruit or vegetables, are supplied to the hopper 42 and are moved by the advancing screen "40 through the opening 46 so that a layer of the articles will be spread upon the sizing screen 40 between the curbings 26. As the articles move about on the sizing screen 40 during the sizing operation the smooth fiat top faces 90 of the hinge clips 64 are engaged by the articles but cause no damage thereto. When the articles either lodge in or pass through the sizing openings 98, the fiat surfaces 94 and 95 of the gauging tabs 92 and 93, respectively, which are contacted by the articles prevent any possible damage thereto such as cutting or scratching. During movement of the sizing screen 40, articles of large, select size which will not pass through the octagonal sizing openings 98 of the screen 40 lodge in the sizing openings, and are advanced toward the roller 34. The roller 34 lifts these large articles from the openings 98 so that they will go onto the discharge chute 50 and out of the sizer to be collected in any convenient manner. Articles of small size pass easily through the sizing opening 98 and into the trough 56 to be collected and removed as may be desired.

In the present disclosure fruit and vegetables have been referred to in describing the operation of the sizer. It is, however, to be understood that articles of any type that are of suitable shape can be successfully separated according to size by use of the sizer of the present invention. While one particular construction of support structure 12 and one particular drive means have been disclosed the sizer screen 49 of the present invention can successfully be embodied in a diiferent support structure and advanced by difierent drive means.

Since all the diameters of the octagonal sizing openings 98 in the sizing screen 40 which are critical to the sorting of articles according to size are the same, the grading operation performed by the sizer of the present invention will achieve a more decided distinction between large and small articles of produce than was possible with previous sizers. Moreover, since the sizing screen 40 can be used with the upper reach unsupported between its ends a sizing apparatus is obtained that uses fewer parts than was formerly possible.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described it will be understood that both the sizer apparatus and the sizing screen are capable of modification and variation without departing from the principles of the invention and that the scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope and proper interpretation of the claims appended hereto.

The invention having thus been described, what is be licved to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sizing screen having link members and connecting means therefor providing equally spaced elongated hexagonal openings between adjacent link members, said hexagonal openings each having the opposite sides thereof substantially equally spaced apart, gauging means on each of said connecting means projecting a predetermined distance lengthwise of said openings into two adjacent ones of said hexagonal openings, opposed ones of said gauging means in one of said hexagonal openings being effective to limit one dimension of said hexagonal opening to form an octagonal sizing opening having the opposite sides thereof substantially equally spaced apart.

2. In a sizing screen, a plurality of adjacently positioned elongate link members each formed with a series of bends and having a generally zig-zag configuration, the bends of each link member being flattened at their extremities to form two parallel edges, said link members being arranged in edge to edge relation and cooperating to define a plurality of spaced hexagonal openings elongated longitudinally of said link members, connector '5 means pivotally connecting the edges of adjacent link members, and means on said connector means limiting the transverse dimension and the longitudinal dimension of each hexagonal opening, said limiting means cooperating to convert each hexagonal opening into an octagonal sizing opening have the opposite sides thereof equally spaced apart.

3. 'In a sizing screen, a plurality of adjacently positioned elongate link members each including a series of bends forming the link member into a generally zig-zag configuration, the bends of each link member being flattened at their extremities to form two parallel edges of the link member, adjacent link members being arranged in edge to edge relation and cooperating to define spaced hexagonal openings elongated longitudinally of said link members, loop means pivotally connecting the edges of adjacent link members, and means on said loop means limiting the transverse dimension and the longitudinal dimension of each of said hexagonal openings, said limiting means cooperating to convert each hexagonal opening into an octagonal sizing opening having the opposite sides thereof equally spaced apart.

4. Ina sizing screen, a plurality of adjacently positioned elongate link members each correspondingly formed by a series of bends into a generally zig-zag configuration, the bends of each link member being flattened at their extremities to form two parallel edges of the link member, adjacent ones of said link members being arranged in edge to edge relation and cooperating to define a plurality of spaced hexagonal openings elongated longitudinally of said link members, loop means pivotally connecting the edges of adjacent link members, said loop means limiting the transverse dimension of each hexagonal opening, stop means extending from said loop means and overlying and con tacting said link members on one side of said screen, said stop means projecting into the longitudinally opposite corners of each hexagonal opening to limit the longitudinal dimension of each hexagonal opening, said bends, loop means and stop means cooperating to convert each hexagonal opening into an octagonal sizing opening having the opposite sides thereof equally spaced apart.

5. In a sizing screen, a plurality of adjacently positioned elongate link members each correspondingly formed with a series of bends and having a generally zig-zag configuration, the bends of each link member being flattened at their extremities to form two parallel sets of aligned journal portions extending longitudinally of the respective link member, adjacent ones of said link members having corresponding alternate journal portions in mutual contact and having the remaining corresponding alternate journal portions spaced from each other, said bends defining a plurality of spaced hexagonal openings elongated longitudinally of said link members, loop means pivotally connecting each pair of contacting journal portions for pivotal movement of said link members, said loop means limiting the transverse dimension of each hexagonal opening, stop means on said loop means and projecting longitudinally of said link members, and gauging means carried by said stop means and positioned in the longitudinally opposite corners of each hexagonal opening, said gauging means projecting in a direction normal to said stop means to limit the longitudinal dimension of each hexagonal opening, said bends and said loop means and ganging means cooperating to convert each hexagonal opening into an octagonal sizing opening having the opposite sides thereof equally spaced apart.

6. In combination, spaced support means, a generally horizontal screen extending lengthwise between and supported by said support means, said screen comprising a plurality of adjacently positioned elongate link members each correspondingly formed with a series of bends and having a generally zig-zag configuration, the bends of each link member being flattened at their extremities to form two parallel sets of aligned journal portions extending longitudinally of the respective link member, adjacent ones of said link members having corresponding alternate jourcorrespondingalternate journal portions spaced from each other, said bends defining a plurality of spaced hexagonal openings elongated longitudinally of said link members, loop means pivotally connecting each pair of contacting journal portions for pivotal movement of said link members, said loop means limiting the transverse dimension of each hexagonal opening, stop means on said loop means and contacting said link members on the top side of said screen, and gauging means carried by said stop means and positioned in the longitudinally opposite corners of each hexagonal opening, said gauging means projecting in a direction normal to said stop means to limit the longitudinal dimension of each hexagonal opening, said bends and said loop means and gauging means cooperatingto convert each hexagonal opening into an octagonal sizing opening having the opposite sides thereof equally spaced apart, said stop means preventing downward bowing of the screen in the area thereof between said support means.

7. A sizing screen comprising a plurality of elongate link members, said link members having journal portions extending longitudinally of the members and diagonal portions interconnecting the journal portions giving the members a generally zig-zag configuration, said link members being arranged with their alternate journal portions in paired edge to edge relation and with the diagonal portions extending from said paired journal portions diverging to produce polygonal screen openings, and hinge clips connecting said paired journal portions for pivotal motion, said clips having stop arms extending longitudinally past said journal portions and partially overlying said diagonal portions, said stop arms all being on the same side of the screen for restricting pivotal motion of said link members in one direction thereby rendering said side of the screen substantially flat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,598 Canon Sept. 14, 1915 1,474,440 Powers Nov. 20, 1923 1,583,201 Thompson May 4, 1926 1,609,442 Thompson Dec. 7, 1926 1,650,441 Glaize et al. Nov. 22, 1927 1,695,371 Felde Dec. 18, 1928 2,153,688 Fitzgerald Apr. 11, 1939 2,303,984 Byers Dec. 1, 1942 2,689,991 Fedankiw et a1 Sept. 28, 1954 

